Tien Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of TienGiang, dubbed the “kingdom of fruits”, is taking steps to bolster the trade oflocal fruit specialties in Vietnamese and foreign markets.

Tien Giang boasts several popular fruit varieties,including Hoa Loc mangoes, Ngu Hiep durians, Tan Phuoc pineapples, Cho Gaodragon fruits and Vinh Kim star apples.

It is home to more than 77,700ha of fruit trees,harvesting nearly 1.6 million tonnes of fruits each year. More than 600ha ofthe area have met VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

In 2018, fruit production value surpassed 25trillion VND (more than 1 billion USD), or some 61 percent of localagricultural value.

Director of the provincial Department ofIndustry and Trade Doan Van Phuong said Tien Giang has great potential forfruit tree development, but to optimise this advantage, it must ensure stablesales.

According to Vice Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Le Van Nghia, Tien Giang has moved to step up tradepromotion in both domestic and foreign markets, including by participating ininternational fairs and signing fruit purchase contracts with other Vietnameselocalities.

He noted his province inked a deal on fruit andaquatic product manufacturing and consumption with Da Nang for 2017 – 2020.Under this deal, it will supply 26,000 – 30,000 tonnes of different fruits tothe central city each year.

Local businesses and cooperatives have alsoprovided agricultural products for big distributors in Ho Chi Minh City such asBig C, Lotte Mart, Citi Mart and A Chau supermarkets.

Earlier this year, Tien Giang formed apartnership with Vietnam Airlines to serve Hoa Loc mangoes and green-skingrapefruits on the national flag carrier’s flights. More seasonal fruitspecialties of the province are expected to be available on Vietnam Airlines’flights in the near future, Nghia said.

Meanwhile, Cho Gao dragon fruits, Ngu Hiepdurians, Vinh Kim star apples and green-skin grapefruits have become majorexport items, helping farming households raise their incomes.

Tien Giang shipped the first batch of Vinh Kimstar apples to the US in December 2017, opening up a new export opportunity forthis fruit, deemed the most delicious star apple variety in Vietnam.

Additionally, other delicacies like mangoes andgrapefruits have also succeeded in entering demanding markets, proving theeffectiveness of trade promotion activities, according to the People’sCommittee.

In 2018, the province earned 17.2 million USDfrom exporting 10,522 tonnes of fruit, up 20.11 percent in value and 28.3percent in volume.

However, Vice Chairman Nghia said export volumehas yet to match potential, given the big output, high economic value andstrong demand in foreign markets.

He added to boost trading, the provincialadministration has ordered departments and agencies to accelerate agriculturaland industrial restructuring, attract more investment to processing, step uptrade promotion and seek new markets. Tien Giang has also been working to makemarket forecasts to help businesses, cooperatives and farmers build developmentplans and improve their connectivity.-VNA